Westbrook has triple-double, Durant one assist shy in win

The Associated Press /

Published May 8, 2014 at 12:01AM

OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook had a triple-double, MVP Kevin Durant fell one assist short and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Clippers 112-101 on Wednesday night to tie their Western Conference semifinal series at one win apiece.

Westbrook had 31 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to claim his third triple-double in his past five playoff games. Durant had 32 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists before leaving the game with 81 seconds remaining. According to information provided to the Thunder by the Elias Sports Bureau, no pair of teammates has had triple-doubles in the same playoff game.

Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha each scored 14 points for the Thunder, who shot 51 percent from the field and outrebounded the Clippers 52-36.

The Clippers made 15 of 29 3-pointers in Game 1, but just 9 of 27 in Game 2.

Durant scored 17 points in the first quarter on 7-for-11 shooting to help the Thunder take a 37-28 lead.

Paul, who scored 17 points in the opening quarter of Game 1, went scoreless in the first quarter of Game 2 and watched most of the period from the bench with two fouls.

Also on Wednesday:

Pacers 86, Wizards 82: INDIANAPOLIS — Roy Hibbert broke out of his playoff funk with a season-best 28 points and nine rebounds, leading Indiana to a win that tied the Eastern Conference semifinals at 1-1. It was a stark contrast to Hibbert’s abysmal, scoreless showing in Monday night’s loss — and most of this year’s playoffs. But after hearing 48 hours of constant criticism and continual questions, Hibbert responded with the kind of game Indiana desperately needed. He made his first four shots, dominated the middle and produced big basket after big basket. Marcin Gortat had 21 points and Bradley Beal added 17 for the Wizards. Washington took a 77-74 lead with 5:01 left in the game. Indiana scored six straight and never trailed again. Washington had won all four of its previous road playoff games — three at Chicago and Monday night in Indy. But Hibbert refused to let it happen again Wednesday. He scored the first five points, blocked two shots and altered a handful of others on a night Indiana needed every contribution he could give. Hibbert’s one-handed dunk cut the deficit to one with 7:57 left, and it was a nifty stop-and-go layup that got the Pacers within 77-76 three minutes later. That basket ignited the decisive spurt.